Best fish for sps tank

[Esquire805]

Tang is temporary until owner finishes setting up, but has been in here for a month or so.

Why not a mandarin for a 40? I have a thriving refugium that is exploding with pods.... He is fat and healthy with no signs of stress. I'm very attentive with my fish and take action if they show any signs of stress

All the ones I got just dont eat no I take that back I had one when I was first starting the hobby but killed it due to error

 

[Esquire805]

Typically, there isn’t enough live rock in a 40 gallon tank to support a mandarin long term... unless the refugium is bigger than the tank itself. Some say you can supplement frozen, culture pods, feed baby brine, etc etc etc... in my experience it always fails eventually. I’ve killed a couple myself- trying everything under the sun, only had success long term (2 years and counting) when I upgraded to a 120...

I’m sure there’s a few exceptions, but as a general rule it’s very risky.

Yes they look nice but I'm tired of wasting money

 

[Esquire805]

I think wrasses are worth the trouble in sps. They are great at keeping pests at bay. Yellow tail damsels are great and get the most compliments ironically from guest. ORA lemon damsels as well. Theyre like yellowtails except all yellow.

I ordered a yellow wrasse

 

[vetteguy53081]

Flame angel, coral beauty angel, yellow tang, yellow eye tang, clowfish, basslets, tail spot blenny, firefish gobie and longnose hawk

 

[Nburg's Reef]

Flame angel, coral beauty angel, yellow tang, yellow eye tang, clowfish, basslets, tail spot blenny, firefish gobie and longnose hawk

dwarf angels and most blennys can be tough in SPS as they nip so don't expect polyp extension. Any tang is too big for a 40g long term. Others are good options

 

[Nburg's Reef]

I ordered a yellow wrasse

those are among the best at eating pests. If by yellow wrasse, you mean Halichoeres chrysus, then make sure you have sand for them to sleep in. They use sand to sleep and and to hide when scared. they may survive without, but it's not ideal by any means.

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

I have a 50 gallon cube open top sps dominant with a pair of ocellaris clowns (18 yrs old btw), a bristletooth tang, a foxface, a pair of striped cardinal fish, 1 Banghai cardinal, a star Blenny, an orchid dotty back, a six line wrasse, and 20-30 hermits. None of these have ever jumped out of the tank. I had some fish jump out before my tank was grounded but zero jumpers since. The clowns and the six line are probably my favorite. I know hermits are not fish but they do create food for the acros.

 

[vetteguy53081]

dwarf angels and most blennys can be tough in SPS as they nip so don't expect polyp extension. Any tang is too big for a 40g long term. Others are good options

Three tanks and issues with these guys

 

[Graffiti Spot]

I always make sure each of my fish has a purpose and job to do in my tank besides look good.

 

[Esquire805]

I always make sure each of my fish has a purpose and job to do in my tank besides look good.

Yes some I just need for nutrients to be honest

 

[Esquire805]

Flame angel, coral beauty angel, yellow tang, yellow eye tang, clowfish, basslets, tail spot blenny, firefish gobie and longnose hawk

Just got a fire fish it's under the rock scared should have gotten more lol

 

[Esquire805]

dwarf angels and most blennys can be tough in SPS as they nip so don't expect polyp extension. Any tang is too big for a 40g long term. Others are good options

Just got a blenny but man the fish will bother the corals

 

[Esquire805]

those are among the best at eating pests. If by yellow wrasse, you mean Halichoeres chrysus, then make sure you have sand for them to sleep in. They use sand to sleep and and to hide when scared. they may survive without, but it's not ideal by any means.

Yes my sand bed is about 4 inch so I should be ok

 

[427HISS]

These guys would be perfect.

 

[shred5]

Just got a fire fish it's under the rock scared should have gotten more lol

No fire fish kill each other. They are a very skittish fish and they get picked on by allot of fish.

They also are big jumpers.

 

[Esquire805]

These guys would be perfect.

They never die

 

[Esquire805]

No fire fish kill each other. They are a very skittish fish and they get picked on by allot of fish.

Well I only have one his name is scary

 

[Nburg's Reef]

Just got a blenny but man the fish will bother the corals

What kind of blenny? Some nip, some don't.

 

[Westside Guy]

If you really want a damsel consider the Kupang (Azure) Damsel. They are semi-aggressive put should be ok in a tank 30 gallons or larger and I don’t recall people saying they are jumpers.

 

[DesertReefT4r]

Talbot Damsel is another good one. Pretty pink color, not very common but also nit hard to get or expensive, hardy as is the rep of damsels and peaceful. Some other cool peaceful damsels are Azure, Starcki $$, Pink Smith, Rolland's and Tracey's. Chromis in small shouls are nice. Clown fish of coarse. Sixline wrasse do a good job of eating pests.